Speech by Lord Hill, European Commissioner for financial services, financial stability and capital markets union | Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) | 27 February 2015 NYC Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me here. I am delighted to be here on my first trip to the US as a new European Commissioner. I've just had two days in Washington DC talking mainly politics and regulation. But I'm someone who doesn't think that you should regulate without...

Read more

The FCC just voted in favor of a strong net neutrality rule to keep the Internet open and free. That happened, in part, because millions of Americans across the country didn't just care about this issue: You stood up and made your voices heard, whether by adding your names to petitions, submitting public comments, or talking with the people you know about why this matters. Read a special thank-you message from the President, then learn more about how we got to...

Read more

Last week, the European Commission—the EU’s executive arm—took the first step toward cementing one of the EU’s fundamentals freedoms:  free movement of capital.  The goal is to break down barriers that block cross-border investments in the EU and prevent businesses from getting adequate access to finance. The EU has launched a green paper as the basis for a three month public consultation on how the Capital Markets Union (CMU) should take shape.  Based on public input, the Commission will...

Read more

European Commission - Speech | Brussels, 23 February 2015 | Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs. ] Mesdames, Messieurs, Je vous souhaite la bienvenue à cette conférence organisée conjointement par mes services et le Fonds Monétaire International. Cet événement est un bel exemple de collaboration entre nos deux institutions pour lesquelles la croissance, la création d'emplois et l'investissement sont des priorités essentielles. Je vous remercie d'être venus si nombreux en ce début d'après-midi et je salue tout particulièrement...

Read more

Brussels, 18 February 2015 -- The European Commission today launched its landmark project to unlock funding for Europe’s businesses and to boost growth in the EU’s 28 Member States with the creation of a true single market for capital. The Capital Markets Union aims to break down the barriers that are blocking cross-border investments in the EU and preventing businesses from getting access to finance. The current environment is tough for businesses that remain heavily reliant on banks and relatively...

Read more

The Eurogroup reiterates its appreciation for the remarkable adjustment efforts undertaken by Greece and the Greek people over the last years. During the last few weeks, we have, together with the institutions, engaged in an intensive and constructive dialogue with the new Greek authorities and reached common ground today.  The Eurogroup notes, in the framework of the existing arrangement, the request from the Greek authorities for an extension of the Master Financial Assistance Facility Agreement (MFFA), which is underpinned by...

Read more

Following a decision by the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) today, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) across Europe should be able to benefit from the first funds from the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) before the summer. The landmark decision taken today by the EIB Board of Governors will allow for the pre-financing of SME projects linked to the Investment Plan for Europe before the summer. European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment...

Read more

Europe’s Finance Ministers today welcomed the proposal for the European Investment Bank Group to manage the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) within the EIB under the Investment Plan for Europe announced last November. The fund, backed by the EU Bank and the European Commission, is intended to support EUR 315 billion of new investment across Europe over the next three years. The extraordinary meeting of the EIB’s Board of Governors recognised the significant role of Europe’s long-term lending institution...

Read more

Parliament as a whole voted on Thursday to set up a special parliamentary committee to look into EU member states’ "tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect" and make recommendations for the future. The committee will have 45 members and is established for an initial period of six months. Result of the vote: 612 in favour, 19 against and 23 abstentions. The composition of the committee was approved by a show of hands. Mandate The committee will look into...

Read more